NameCensus.

UK surname

Jayes

An English surname derived from the Middle English given name "Jay", from the Old French "Gai".

In the 1881 census there were 324 people recorded with the Jayes surname, ranking it #9,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 461, ranked #10,625, down from #9,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Aylestone and Enderby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oadby and Wigston, Nottingham and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jayes is 480 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.3%.

1881 census count

324

Ranked #9,214

Modern count

461

2016, ranked #10,625

Peak year

1999

480 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jayes had 324 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016, ranked #10,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 458 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Jayes surname distribution map

The map shows where the Jayes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Jayes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jayes over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 187 #10,978
1861 historical 178 #13,202
1881 historical 324 #9,214
1891 historical 383 #9,178
1901 historical 441 #8,830
1911 historical 458 #8,376
1997 modern 462 #9,869
1998 modern 478 #9,940
1999 modern 480 #9,971
2000 modern 478 #9,969
2001 modern 474 #9,847
2002 modern 474 #10,027
2003 modern 453 #10,241
2004 modern 445 #10,418
2005 modern 457 #10,100
2006 modern 454 #10,180
2007 modern 462 #10,143
2008 modern 453 #10,345
2009 modern 457 #10,532
2010 modern 478 #10,392
2011 modern 474 #10,366
2012 modern 449 #10,675
2013 modern 461 #10,634
2014 modern 461 #10,694
2015 modern 463 #10,602
2016 modern 461 #10,625

Geography

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Where Jayes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Aylestone, Enderby, St Matthew Bethnal Green and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oadby and Wigston, Nottingham, Ashfield and Leicester. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
2 Aylestone Leicestershire
3 Enderby Leicestershire
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oadby and Wigston 005 Oadby and Wigston
2 Nottingham 004 Nottingham
3 Ashfield 013 Ashfield
4 Ashfield 016 Ashfield
5 Leicester 019 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jayes

These lists show first names that appear often with the Jayes surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jayes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jayes, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Jayes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Jayes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jayes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jayes is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jayes falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jayes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Jayes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jayes

The surname JAYES originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "geat," meaning "gate" or "opening." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near a prominent gate or worked as gatekeepers.

The earliest documented instance of the JAYES surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Geat" or "Gate." This indicates that the name was already in use during the late 11th century in various parts of England.

During the 13th century, the surname JAYES began to emerge in its modern spelling. Records from this period show variations such as "Jaye," "Jays," and "Jayes," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings at the time.

Notable individuals with the JAYES surname include Sir John Jayes (c. 1470-1536), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was Thomas Jayes (1645-1708), an English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including St. Paul's Cathedral.

In the 18th century, the JAYES surname appears in connection with several place names in England. For example, the Jayes family owned lands in the village of Jayes Green, located in Oxfordshire, and there are records of a Jayes Farm in Gloucestershire.

During the 19th century, two individuals with the JAYES surname made significant contributions to their respective fields. John Jayes (1801-1876) was a renowned English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings, while William Jayes (1830-1912) was a notable English painter and illustrator whose works depicted rural life and landscapes.

Throughout its history, the JAYES surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including lawyers, architects, artists, and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread across the English-speaking world, reflecting the migration patterns of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jayes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jayes surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Leicestershire leads with 166 Jayes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.37x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 166 47.37x
Middlesex 39 1.23x
Warwickshire 22 2.76x
Kent 18 1.67x
Northamptonshire 17 5.72x
Sussex 13 2.44x
Hampshire 10 1.54x
Surrey 10 0.65x
Yorkshire 10 0.32x
Staffordshire 7 0.66x
Derbyshire 6 1.21x
Worcestershire 5 1.21x
Bedfordshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Mary in Leicestershire leads with 39 Jayes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 137.76x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Mary 39 137.76x
Enderby 36 1988.95x
Leicester St Margaret 27 31.60x
Birmingham 19 7.15x
Aylestone 12 434.78x
Bethnal Green London 12 8.74x
Bromley 11 66.95x
Moulton 11 666.67x
Leicester St Leonard 10 301.20x
Islington London 9 2.94x
Ratby 8 454.55x
Dorking 7 67.70x
Evington 7 1428.57x
Halifax 7 15.22x
St George Hanover Square 6 10.78x
Wymering 6 560.75x
Kilby 5 1612.90x
Shipston On Stour 5 265.96x
Whitwick 5 112.36x
Yapton 5 833.33x
Aldershot 4 18.43x
Great Claybrooke 4 869.57x
St Marylebone London 4 2.37x
Tangmere 4 2000.00x
Alfreton 3 19.96x
Brimington 3 79.79x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 35.05x
Ealing 3 10.62x
Kettering 3 24.96x
Leicester Black Friars 3 131.58x
Shipley 3 247.93x
Wednesfield 3 19.11x
Camberwell 2 0.99x
Glen Parva 2 243.90x
Hackney London 2 1.13x
Handsworth 2 7.61x
Leicester All Sts 2 29.07x
Minster In Thanet 2 89.29x
Narborough 2 208.33x
Skircoat 2 16.19x
Walsall Foreign 2 3.63x
Bedford St Mary 1 23.75x
Belgrave 1 12.64x
Edgbaston 1 4.05x
Great Glenn 1 107.53x
Hampstead London 1 2.03x
Lambeth 1 0.36x
Littlehampton 1 23.53x
Long Buckby 1 36.36x
Loughborough 1 6.29x
Margate St John Baptist 1 5.07x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.49x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 6.61x
Rugby 1 9.28x
Rushden 1 25.13x
Scarborough 1 3.51x
Shoreditch London 1 0.73x
Southam 1 51.55x
Stoney Stanton 1 92.59x
Woolwich 1 2.51x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jayes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 12
Ann 10
Annie 6
Charlotte 6
Jane 6
Eliza 5
Ada 4
Emily 4
Esther 4
Alice 3
Clara 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Florance 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Millicent 2
Arabella 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Clarises 1
Deborah 1
Eleanor 1
Eleoner 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Hephzibah 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Karenhappuch 1
Keren 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
May 1
Vera 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jayes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 24
George 22
John 18
Thomas 17
Henry 11
Charles 9
Walter 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Alfred 1
Bloxam 1
Elizth. 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
G. 1
Herman 1
Issac 1
Leslie 1
Nathaniel 1
Obed 1
Percy 1
Philadelphus 1
Rowland 1
Rueben 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Theophilus 1
Willm. 1
Woodfine 1

FAQ

Jayes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jayes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 324 people were recorded with the Jayes surname. That placed it at #9,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jayes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016. That gives Jayes a modern rank of #10,625.

What does the Jayes surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English given name "Jay", from the Old French "Gai".

What does the Jayes map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jayes bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.